What is STEM? At MCDS we have added an A (for arts) to make STEAM A common definition isSTEM education is an interdisciplinary approach to learning where rigorous academic concepts are coupled with real-world lessons as students apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [and art] in contexts that make connections between school, community, work, and the global enterprise enabling the development of STEM literacy and with it the ability to compete in the new economy. (Tsupros, 2009) How do we introduce this to young students? Here are some picture books to get young minds engaged in STEAM thinking.

A little girl has a wonderful idea. She has imagined The Most Magnificent Thing!She knows how it will look and work. She measures, hammers, adjusts, and tweaks. It just does not seem to work! Aided by her canine companion she tinkers some more and when she is finished it is just what they both wanted. Written and illustrated by Ashley Spires.

The Going Places contest comes with a go-cart kit and Rafael builds his to look like all the other contestants’. But what on earth is Maya doing with her kit? Forget about supposed to and ought to, Maya’s ideas are sky high and Rafael is happy to pitch in and go along for the ride!Going Placesby Peter Reynolds

Rosie Revere, Engineerby Andrea Beaty introduces us to inventor Rosie who creates amazing inventions from everyday objects. When her uncle laughs at her constructions, she begins to keep her dreams to herself. Enter great-great-aunt Rosie who longs to fly. From her little Rosie learns that her first flop is the perfect first try and that the only true failure can come if you quit.

What Do You Do With An Idea by Yobi Yamada. If your idea is different or daring what do you do? Do you hide it or become friends with it? If others say it's weird and no good, do you listen or forge ahead? Can you see big, see bravely? What can happen if you let your idea soar?

Archibald Frisbyby Michael Chesworth. What can a mom do with a kid who has science on the brain and would rather look at the world through a microscope? Lab experiments leave little time for socializing. So mom ships him off to summer camp where many opportunities to investigate science lead to unexpected friendships.

Dreaming up a celebration of buildingby Christy Hale. "If they can dream it, they can build it" Madhu Thangavelu. Pair children building with concrete poetry and add the inspiration of the works of innovative architects and you have a unique creation. From Barcelona, Spain to Luxor, Egypt follow the dreams of children and groundbreaking architects.

How to you take the mind boggling mathematical concept of infinity and make it kid friendly? The author of Infinity and Me, takes this profound idea and transforms it into a race track, a never-ending ice cream cone, a family tree, a circular round of music, the vastness of the night stars snuggled up next to grandma and finally their love for each other. The end note quotes kindergarten children sharing their definition of infinity. "How many ways are there to imagine infinity? An infinite number. Just close the book and begin." author Kate Hosford.

Looking for innovation, mechanical engineering, women in science? Here is the perfect book to share: Violet the Pilot by Steve Breen. At the age of two, Violet can repair any appliance in the house, at eight she is perfecting flying machines. But her fellow students tease her for her mechanical genius until her quick thinking and bravery save the day when a boy scout troupe faces danger.

A 40 year old classic, Andrew Henry's Meadow continues to celebrate the young inventor and engineer. When Henry's parents are less that supportive of his innovations, he runs away to the meadow where he builds an inspired house. Other children in search of creative freedom join him and each has a house built inspired by their passion. Soon the parents come around to appreciate their children's unique houses and free spirits.

In Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse by Torben Kuhlmann, we meet perhaps the last mouse in Germany due to the invention of the mechanical mousetrap from which it seems all mousedom has escaped overseas. Ships are under constant surveillance by ferocious cats. The only salvation is for this small mouse to build an airplane. The sepia toned illustrations are amazing and mouse's design drawings are reminiscent of da Vinci's notebooks. This observant little innovator takes inspiration from bats and found objects continually revising his engineering masterpiece until he is able to soar to freedom in America where his story inspires a boy named Charles. Your own small inventor will pour over the wealth of details on every page of this gorgeous book.

Marisol is an artist who loves to paint and draw. She shares her art with the world creating posters with ideas she believes in and is famous for her unique clothes and her belief that everyone is an artist. Excited by the mural project for the library she volunteers to do the sky. Shocked to find there is no blue paint, she learns to see the sky in a different light. Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds.

Master builder Iggy Peck has been practicing his craft since he was a babe. However, his second grade teacher traumatized by a sky scrapper snafu as a child, does not appreciate his architectural marvels until the class embarks on a picnic crossing an old trestle to a small island. The bridge collapses and the fainting teacher and the children are trapped. Iggy galvanizes his classmates into action and a suspension bridge is constructed using shoelaces and more. Miss Greer is a convert to building your dreams and Iggy is the tour guide through architectural history. Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty

We have been reading books about hats and inventors in second grade library. The first book we read was Boss of the Plains: The Hat that Won the West by Laurie Carlson with pictures by Holly Meade. It tells the true story of how J.B. Stetson invented the Boss of the Plains hat to suit the rough life of cowboys and gold miners out West. When we finished reading the book, we asked students to identify the needs that existed and the features of the hats that meet those needs. For example, the big brim kept the rain off their back and the sun out of their eyes.

Next we read Stormy's Hat: Just Right for a Railroad Man by Eric A. Kimmel with pictures by Andrea U'Ren. This book shows how Stormy tried many hats to find one that would fit with his job as a train engineer. After many failures he describes his ideal hat to his wife, Ada, who makes it for him. The hat caught on with other engineers and can still be seen in train yards today. Once again students identified needs for the job and features of the hat that met them. These included fabric that doesn't catch on fire and is easy to clean and a tight fit so that it doesn't blow off when the engineer pokes his head out the train window.

Finally we read a tall tale based loosely on how Levi Strauss invented jeans to withstand the rough life in the gold fields. We used this story to discuss qualities that make a good inventor. The students came up with many traits including: patience, confidence, perseverance, imagination, ability to brainstorm and get feedback from others, and not being afraid to mess up. We had a lot of fun reading about these inventors and the second graders are inspired to try inventing themselves!

Last week, MCDS alum Zio Ziegler painted a mural in the Dragon Room. Those of us lucky enough to witness Zio at work were amazed by his skill and watched, fascinated, through the windows. For everyone who didn't get a chance to see Zio at work and everyone who would like to watch it again, Kevin Schoenbohm made this video capturing the process. Enjoy!

"The most important developments in civilization have come through the creative process, but ironically, most people have not been taught to be creative." Robert Fritz, The Path of Least Resistance, 1994

These books are available in the LRC to spark your creative thinking this summer.

Steal Like an Artist: 10 things nobody told you about being creative by Austin Kleon is a fun book. It is full of quotes that will make you think. "Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic." Jim Jarmusch.

The ten transformative principles will help your build a more creative life.

In Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius by Michale Michalko, the author examines in each chapter a different creative thinking strategy. This is a very readable book; just reading the introduction in which he summarizes the eight strategies will get your creative juices flowing.Check out the exercises and thought experiments on his website:http://creativethinking.net/WP01_Home.htm

IMAGINE : How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer "Flummoxed by an intractable problem? You probably just need to work harder, right? Actually, try taking a walk instead. Thanks to how we’re hardwired, insight tends to strike suddenly—after we’ve stopped looking. In this entertaining Gladwell-esque plunge into the science of creativity, Jonah Lehrer mingles with a wide cast of characters—inventors, educators, scientists, a Pixar co-founder, an autistic surfing savant—to deconstruct how we accomplish our great feats of imagination. Notable themes emerge: Failure is necessary. The more people you casually rub shoulders with—on and off the job—the more good ideas you’ll have. And societies that unduly restrict citizens’ ability to borrow from the ideas of others—see our broken patent system—do so at their peril."--Mother JonesWatch Mr. Lehrer explain his thinking here:http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m1VE0QH1OLIYEA/ref=ent_fb_link

Although the author of Manager's Guide to Fostering Innovations and Creativity in Teams comes from a corporate culture, Charles Prather gives helpful advice to anyone interested in implementing innovation. Key points are how to create an environment that gets people thinking creatively, how to align teams to work toward creative solutions, and how to build a self-sustaining culture of innovation.